Method and system for using presence in a system management environment

ABSTRACT

Method, system and computer program product for communicating information regarding a managed resource in a network data processing system. A method, in a network data processing system, for communicating information regarding a managed resource includes receiving management information regarding at least one managed resource. The received management information is converted into a specified format, and the converted management information is then sent to at least one management application in conjunction with the sending of presence information to the at least one management application. The converted management information may then be extracted from the presence information for use in any desired manner. The invention provides a convenient mechanism for communicating status information and other appropriate information regarding a managed resource to interested parties connected to the network data processing system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the data processing fieldand, more particularly, to a system, method and computer program productfor communicating resource information over a network data processingsystem using presence.

2. Description of Related Art

Instant messaging (IM) is an online chat medium that allows users tocommunicate with one another in real-time over a network data processingsystem. Instant messaging is commonly used over the Internet, and isanalogous to a telephone conversation between two individuals but usestext-based communication rather than voice-based communication. In aninstant messaging system, a communication session between two users isinitiated by one user selecting a person with whom he desires tocommunicate. The user then types a message in a dialog box in a windowand presses “send”. The sent message appears instantly on the selectedperson's computer. During a communication session each party can createand send desired messages to the other party.

In addition to enabling users to communicate in real time during acommunication session, an instant messaging system also includes acapability of monitoring and reporting the status of users that haveestablished each other as online contacts. This monitoring and reportingcapability is referred to as “presence” and enables one user to detectwhether other users are online. Typically, presence alerts a userwhenever a particular individual on the user's private list, oftenreferred to as a “Buddy List”, is online. The user can then initiate acommunication session with that particular individual.

In addition to reporting whether a particular individual is online,current presence systems also include a capability of transmittinglimited information regarding the availability of an individual that isonline to participate in a communication session. In particular, anindividual may create an “away message” to be communicated as presenceinformation. The away message may include, for example, limitedinformation indicating the reason an individual is not presentlyavailable for a communication session, or information as to when theindividual is expected to be available for a communication session.

Basically, a presence system includes software that sends a heartbeatsignal via a presence network to determine if particular individuals areonline. Presence information is sent to a user over the presence networkvia a presence packet.

It would be desirable to utilize the presence capability of an instantmessaging system to communicate information concerning a managedresource over a network data processing system

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method, system and computer programproduct for communicating information regarding a managed resource overa network data processing system. A method, in a network data processingsystem, for communicating information regarding a managed resourceincludes receiving management information regarding at least one managedresource. The received management information is converted into aspecified format, and the converted management information is then sentto at least one management application in conjunction with the sendingof presence information to the at least one management application. Theconverted management information may then be extracted from the presenceinformation for use in any desired manner. The invention provides aconvenient mechanism for communicating status information and otherappropriate information regarding a managed resource to interestedparties connected to the network data processing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a network of data processingsystems in which the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data processing system that may beimplemented as a server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing system that may beimplemented as a client in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram that illustrates components used in an instantmessaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a state diagram that schematically illustrates the capabilityof using presence to communicate information regarding a managedresource during different states of the managed resource in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates managed resource information dataflow in a network data processing system in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a timing chart that illustrates a method for using presence tocommunicate information regarding a managed resource over a network dataprocessing system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts a pictorialrepresentation of a network of data processing systems in which thepresent invention may be implemented. Network data processing system 100is a network of computers in which the present invention may beimplemented. Network data processing system 100 contains a network 102,which is the medium used to provide communications links between variousdevices and computers connected together within network data processingsystem 100. Network 102 may include connections, such as wire, wirelesscommunication links, or fiber optic cables.

In the depicted example, server 104 is connected to network 102 alongwith storage unit 106. In addition, clients 108, 110, and 112 areconnected to network 102. These clients 108, 110, and 112 may be, forexample, personal computers or network computers. In the depictedexample, server 104 provides data, such as boot files, operating systemimages, and applications to clients 108-112. Clients 108, 110, and 112are clients to server 104. Network data processing system 100 mayinclude additional servers, clients, and other devices not shown. In thedepicted example, network data processing system 100 is the Internetwith network 102 representing a worldwide collection of networks andgateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. At theheart of the Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communicationlines between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands ofcommercial, government, educational and other computer systems thatroute data and messages. Of course, network data processing system 100also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, suchas for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide areanetwork (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as anarchitectural limitation for the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a data processing system thatmay be implemented as a server, such as server 104 in FIG. 1, isdepicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Data processing system 200 may be a symmetric multiprocessor(SMP) system including a plurality of processors 202 and 204 connectedto system bus 206. Alternatively, a single processor system may beemployed. Also connected to system bus 206 is memory controller/cache208, which provides an interface to local memory 209. I/O Bus Bridge 210is connected to system bus 206 and provides an interface to I/O bus 212.Memory controller/cache 208 and I/O Bus Bridge 210 may be integrated asdepicted.

Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus bridge 214 connected to I/Obus 212 provides an interface to PCI local bus 216. A number of modemsmay be connected to PCI local bus 216. Typical PCI bus implementationswill support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.Communications links to clients 108-112 in FIG. 1 may be providedthrough modem 218 and network adapter 220 connected to PCI local bus 216through add-in connectors.

Additional PCI bus bridges 222 and 224 provide interfaces for additionalPCI local buses 226 and 228, from which additional modems or networkadapters may be supported. In this manner, data processing system 200allows connections to multiple network computers. A memory-mappedgraphics adapter 230 and hard disk 232 may also be connected to I/O bus212 as depicted, either directly or indirectly.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardwaredepicted in FIG. 2 may vary. For example, other peripheral devices, suchas optical disk drives and the like, also may be used in addition to orin place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant toimply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention.

The data processing system depicted in FIG. 2 may be, for example, anIBM eServer pSeries system, a product of International Business MachinesCorporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced Interactive Executive(AIX) operating system or LINUX operating system.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a data processingsystem that may be implemented as a client, such as one of clients 108,110 and 112 in FIG. 1, is depicted in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. Data processing system 300 employsa peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus architecture.Although the depicted example employs a PCI bus, other bus architecturessuch as Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA) may be used. Processor 302 and main memory 304 areconnected to PCI local bus 306 through PCI Bridge 308. PCI Bridge 308also may include an integrated memory controller and cache memory forprocessor 302. Additional connections to PCI local bus 306 may be madethrough direct component interconnection or through add-in boards. Inthe depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter 310, smallcomputer system interface (SCSI) host bus adapter 312, and expansion businterface 314 are connected to PCI local bus 306 by direct componentconnection. In contrast, audio adapter 316, graphics adapter 318, andaudio/video adapter 319 are connected to PCI local bus 306 by add-inboards inserted into expansion slots. Expansion bus interface 314provides a connection for a keyboard and mouse adapter 320, modem 322,and additional memory 324. SCSI host bus adapter 312 provides aconnection for hard disk drive 326, tape drive 328, and CD-ROM drive330. Typical PCI local bus implementations will support three or fourPCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.

An operating system runs on processor 302 and is used to coordinate andprovide control of various components within data processing system 300in FIG. 3. The operating system may be a commercially availableoperating system, such as Windows XP, which is available from MicrosoftCorporation. An object oriented programming system such as Java may runin conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to theoperating system from Java programs or applications executing on dataprocessing system 300. “Java” is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programmingsystem, and applications or programs are located on storage devices,such as hard disk drive 326, and may be loaded into main memory 304 forexecution by processor 302.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware inFIG. 3 may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardwareor peripheral devices, such as flash read-only memory (ROM), equivalentnonvolatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used inaddition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3. Also, theprocesses of the present invention may be applied to a multiprocessordata processing system.

As another example, data processing system 300 may be a stand-alonesystem configured to be bootable without relying on some type of networkcommunication interfaces As a further example, data processing system300 may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, which isconfigured with ROM and/or flash ROM in order to provide non-volatilememory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data.

The depicted example in FIG. 3 and above-described examples are notmeant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processingsystem 300 also may be a notebook computer or hand held computer inaddition to taking the form of a PDA. Data processing system 300 alsomay be a kiosk or a Web appliance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that illustrates components used in an instantmessaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The instant messaging system, which may beimplemented in a network of data processing systems such as network dataprocessing system 100 in FIG. 1, includes an instant messagingapplication 400 that processes messages, such as message 402 receivedfrom a user located on a remote data processing system, such as one ofclient data processing systems 108, 110 and 112 in FIG. 1. As messagesare received, the messages are presented in dialog windows 404. Messagesexchanged between instant messaging application 400 and an instantmessaging application on a remote data processing system form acommunication session.

Dialog windows 404 provide an interface for user input to send messagesto other users. Contact and control window 406 is presented by instantmessaging application 400 to provide the user with a list of user names,commonly referred to as a “Buddy List”, as well as other information,such as, for example, identifying other users that are currently online.Contact and control window 406 may also provide an interface to allow auser to set preferences, for example, the color and font to be used ininstant messaging application 400.

The list of user names presented by contact and control window 406 isstored in contact list 408. User names may be added to or deleted fromcontact list 408. Contact list 408 is employed in presenting the list ofuser names within contact and control window 406.

The user may additionally view the status of other users on contact andcontrol window 406. This status may, for example, be “available” or“unavailable”. When the status of another user is available, messagesfrom instant messaging application 400 will be accepted by theapplication for that user to start a communication session. When thestatus of another user is unavailable, messages from instant messagingapplication 400 will not be accepted by the application for that user.

The capability of detecting whether other users are online and availableis referred to as “presence”. Presence services are typically providedthrough applications such as instant messaging, although it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to instant messagingapplications, but may be used in other areas that may utilize presencesuch as Voice over IP (VoIP) applications. Basically, presence isimplemented by software that provides a heartbeat signal to determine ifa user is online. Information indicating that a particular user isonline is transmitted over a network data processing system by apresence information packet.

The presence information packet may also carry other presenceinformation such as an “away message” created by a particular user toinform of reasons why the user is not presently available for acommunication session, to inform of when the user expects to beavailable for a communication session and the like.

The present invention utilizes the presence capability of instantmessaging and other communications systems to communicate informationregarding the state of a managed resource in a network data processingsystem, or other information about the managed resource to interestedparties connected to the network data processing system.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram that schematically illustrates the capabilityof using presence to communicate information regarding a managedresource during different states of the managed resource in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The managedresource may be a component of a data processing system, for example,one of client computers 108, 110 and 112 in FIG. 1, or the managedresource may be a subcomponent of a component.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a component may be in an available state asindicated at 502, an unavailable with no reason state as indicated at504 or an unavailable with reason state as indicated at 506. Inavailable state 502, the component is online and information regardingthe component is capable of being communicated to an interested partyvia a presence network. In unavailable no reason state 504, which may becaused by a system crash, for example, neither information regarding thecomponent nor information regarding a subcomponent of the component,indicated at 508, is capable of being communicated via the presencenetwork. In unavailable with reason state 506, a subcomponent may, forexample, be in an offline state as indicated at 510, a clean down stateas indicated at 512 or a timed down state indicated at 514. In a cleandown state, the communication of information regarding the subcomponentvia the presence network is unavailable; however, in an offline state ora timed down state, information regarding the subcomponent may becommunicated via the presence network.

FIG. 6 is a diagram that illustrates managed resource information dataflow in a network data processing system in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. The network data processing systemis generally designated by reference number 600, and in the exampledepicted in FIG. 6, includes two management services 602 and 604.Management service 602 manages/monitors managed resources 610 and 612,and management service 604 manages/monitors managed resources 614 and616. It should be understood, however, that the example depicted in FIG.6 is intended to be exemplary only as network data processing system mayinclude any desired number of management services, eachmanaging/monitoring any desired number of managed resources.

Management services 602 and 604 receive management information from therespective resources that they manage. The management information mayinclude information regarding the state of the managed resources alongwith summary information specific to the state of the managed resource.The summary information may also be other appropriate informationregarding the managed resource. Examples of types of summary informationregarding a managed resource include:

Summary performance information

-   -   Throughput        -   Network-Bytes/sec., bytes received/sec., Bytes sent/sec.

Load information

-   -   Number of clients    -   CPU usage

Capacity information

-   -   Number clients able to support    -   Amount of disk (total, used, available)

Management services 602 and 604 are responsible for communicating stateand summary information of each component managed by the managementservice to one or more interested parties, represented by managementconsoles 622 and 624. As shown in FIG. 6, the state information istransmitted to the management consoles through presence network 630. Ineffect, the management information is communicated to managementconsoles 622 and 624 by being piggy-backed onto presence packetscontaining presence information that are communicated to managementconsoles 622 and 624.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart that illustrates a method for using presence tocommunicate information regarding a managed resource over a network dataprocessing system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The timing chart is generally designated by referencenumber 700, and the method begins by a management service 702 loggingonto a presence network 704 as indicated at 706. A managed component 708then registers with management service 702 as shown at 710, andthereafter communicates management information regarding the state ofthe managed component or other information regarding the managedcomponent to management service 702 as indicated at 712. The managementservice can be implemented inside the managed component or via a proxyprocess. As shown in FIG. 7, management information may be transmitted aplurality of times, for example, at regular intervals or at specifictimes.

Each time management information is transmitted to management service702 by managed component 708, the management service converts thereceived information into a summarized form in a specified formatcapable of being transmitted as presence information; and updates itspresence information accordingly as shown at 714. The updates are thensent to one or more management applications 716 that have logged onto aninstant messaging system, as shown at 718, via presence network 704 asindicated at 720. The one or more management applications extract themanagement information summaries from the presence updates and take anyappropriate action based on the extracted information. As shown in FIG.7, updated management information will continue to be transmitted to theone or more management applications until managed component 708unregisters with management service 702 as shown at 722.

The present invention thus provides a method, system and computerprogram product for communicating information regarding a managedresource over a network data processing system. A method, in a networkdata processing system, for communicating information regarding amanaged resource includes receiving management information regarding atleast one managed resource. The received management information isconverted into a specified format, and the converted managementinformation is then sent to at least one management application inconjunction with the sending of presence information to the at least onemanagement application. The converted management information may then beextracted from the presence information for use in any desired manner.The invention provides a convenient mechanism for communicating statusinformation and other appropriate information regarding a managedresource to interested parties connected to the network data processingsystem.

It is important to note that while the present invention has beendescribed in the context of a fully functioning data processing system,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the processes ofthe present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of acomputer readable medium of instructions and a variety of forms and thatthe present invention applies equally regardless of the particular typeof signal bearing media actually used to carry out the distribution.Examples of computer readable media include recordable-type media, suchas a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMS, andtransmission-type media, such as digital and analog communicationslinks, wired or wireless communications links using transmission forms,such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave transmissions. Thecomputer readable media may take the form of coded formats that aredecoded for actual use in a particular data processing system.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention, the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A method, in a network data processing system, for communicatingmanagement information regarding a managed resource comprising:receiving management information regarding at least one managedresource; converting the received management information into aspecified format; and sending the converted management information to atleast one management application in conjunction with the sending ofpresence information to the at least one management application.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein receiving management informationregarding at least one managed resource comprises: receiving managementinformation from at least one managed resource regarding the at leastone managed resource.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereinconverting the received management information into a specified formatcomprises: summarizing the received management information into aspecified format suitable for being sent to the at least one managementapplication in conjunction with the sending of presence information tothe at least one management application.
 4. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one management application is connected toan instant messaging system in the network data processing system. 5.The method according to claim 1, and further including: extracting thesent converted management information from the presence information. 6.The method according to claim 1, wherein the management informationcomprises information regarding a state of the at least one managedresource.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the managementinformation further includes summary information specific to the stateof the at least one managed resource.
 8. The method according to claim1, wherein the at least one managed resource comprises at least onemanaged component of the network data processing system.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one managed resourcecomprises at least one managed subcomponent of a component of thenetwork data processing system.
 10. The method according to claim 1, andfurther including: periodically sending updated converted managementinformation to the at least one management application in conjunctionwith the sending of presence information to the at least one managementapplication.
 11. A system for communicating management informationregarding a managed resource over a network data processing system,comprising: at least one managed resource; and a management service forreceiving management information regarding the at least one managedresource, for converting the received management information into aspecified format, and for sending the converted management informationto at least one management application in conjunction with the sendingof presence information to the at least one management application. 12.The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one managedresource sends the management information regarding the at least onemanaged resource to the management service.
 13. The system according toclaim 11, wherein the management service converts the receivedmanagement information into a specified format by summarizing thereceived management information into a specified format suitable forbeing sent to the at least one management application in conjunctionwith the sending of presence information to the at least one managementapplication.
 14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at leastone management application is connected to an instant messaging systemin the network data processing system.
 15. The system according to claim11, wherein the management information comprises information regarding astate of the at least one managed resource.
 16. The system according toclaim 15, wherein the management information further includes summaryinformation specific to the state of the at least one managed resource.17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one managedresource comprises at least one managed component of the network dataprocessing system.
 18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the atleast one managed resource comprises at least one managed subcomponentof a component of the network data processing system.
 19. A computerprogram product in a computer readable medium for communicatingmanagement information regarding a managed resource comprising: firstinstructions for receiving management information regarding at least onemanaged resource; second instructions converting the received managementinformation into a specified format; and third instructions for sendingthe converted management information to at least one managementapplication in conjunction with the sending of presence information tothe at least one management application.
 20. The computer programproduct according to claim 19, and further including: fourthinstructions for extracting the sent converted management informationfrom the presence information.